Jörn Neumann takes 2WD class at EFRA Euros
The 2014 EFRA Electric Offroad European Champsionships are being held this week in Trelleborg, Sweden. Run on a somewhat tricky clay track built into an ice-hockey stadium, all drivers seem to have a bit of a hard time on the short and slippery track. In the 2WD class, run earlier this week, defending champion Jörn Neumann (Team Durango) took the opening three qualifying rounds, looking to have secured the TQ position early but a late charge from Lee Martin (Yokomo) handed the UK star the pole position for the A-finals as he TQ’d round 4 and 5 with a faster time, denying Neumann the prestigious TQ spot.
The opening A-final then went to Lee after a hard fight with Jörn who was involved in a late incident only seconds from the tone, letting him drop to 4th behind Lee Martin, Neil Cragg and Karri Salmela.
A2 then was a bit less dramatic for the top 3 contestants. Lee made an early mistake that allowed Jörn to pass but the Yokomo driver shifted into second gear to try and catch Neumann, and after some fair wheel-to-wheel racing Jörn secured the win in the second A-final some 0.4 seconds in front of Lee. Neil Cragg completed the top 3 in 3rd.
The deciding A3 then was good for some real drama for the pole sitter. Lee and Jörn took off with no problem until in lap 2 Lee crashed into a marshal who tried to care about David Ronnefalk’s stranded car. A melee of cars caused more havoc and at the end Lee retired on lap 4 as he already saw his championship hopes destroyed. Jörn up front cruised to another Euro title while Neil Cragg secured himself the final podium spot with a 2nd place in the race. Petri Strom completed the top 3 in the final A-main.
2WD results:
1. Jörn Neumann – Team Durango
2. Lee Martin – Yokomo
3. Neil Cragg – Team Associated
4. Karri Salmela – Team Associated
5. Petri Strom – Team Associated
6. Hupo Hönigl – Team C
7. Robert Batlle – Yokomo
8. Joona Haatanen – Team Associated
9. Tom Cockerill – Schumacher
10.David Ronnefalk – Kyosho
Image: RCHobbySydRacing.se [team.rchobbysydracing.se]
